Abstract: An apparatus for single-sided bilayer formation includes a first fluid chamber including a sidewall and a second fluid chamber extending through the sidewall. A barrier wall separates the first and second fluid chambers and includes a nanopore therein across which a planar lipid bilayer (PLB) is formed. In use, an electrolyte is added to the first and second fluid chambers and a lipid/organic solvent mixture is added to the first fluid chamber to form a lipid/organic solvent layer. The electrolyte level within the first fluid chamber is adjusted such that the lipid layer is raised above the barrier wall and a PLB is formed. Electrolyte levels may be adjusted manually or utilizing a fluid level regulator with or without feedback control. Optionally, the apparatus may be in the form of a nanopore array. The apparatus may be incorporated into an ion channel sensing system.

Abstract: An apparatus for single-sided bilayer formation includes a first fluid chamber including a sidewall and a second fluid chamber extending through the sidewall. A barrier wall, having at least a portion defining a hydrophobicity or hydrophilicity surface property, separates the first and second fluid chambers and includes a nanopore therein across which a planar lipid bilayer (PLB) is formed. In use, an electrolyte is added to the first and second fluid chambers and a lipid/organic solvent mixture is added to the first fluid chamber to form a lipid/organic solvent layer. The electrolyte level within the first fluid chamber is adjusted such that the lipid layer is raised above the barrier wall and a PLB is formed through single-sided spontaneous formation from the first fluid chamber across the nanopore.

Abstract: The sequencing of individual monomers (e.g., a single nucleotide) of a polymer (e.g., DNA, RNA) is improved by reducing the motion of the polymer due to thermally-driven diffusion to reduce the spatial error in the position of the polymer within a measurement device. A major system parameter, such as average translocation velocity or measurement time, is selected based on the characteristics of the sensing system utilized, and an algorithm jointly optimizes the sequencing order error rate and the monomer identification error rate of the system.

Abstract: An apparatus for single-sided bilayer formation includes a first fluid chamber including a sidewall and a second fluid chamber extending through the sidewall. A barrier wall, having at least a portion defining a hydrophobicity or hydrophilicity surface property, separates the first and second fluid chambers and includes a nanopore therein across which a planar lipid bilayer (PLB) is formed. In use, an electrolyte is added to the first and second fluid chambers and a lipid/organic solvent mixture is added to the first fluid chamber to form a lipid/organic solvent layer. The electrolyte level within the first fluid chamber is adjusted such that the lipid layer is raised above the barrier wall and a PLB is formed through single-sided spontaneous formation from the first fluid chamber across the nanopore.

Abstract: An electrolytic system includes an analyte chamber having an access port for introducing a sample containing a molecules of interest, such as DNA. Electrodes create an electric field along a length of the analyte chamber to drive molecules toward an interaction region containing a nanopore, thereby increasing the arrival rate of molecules at the nanopore. Additional electrodes may be utilized to create an electric field through the nanopore to drive a molecule into the nanopore. A current sensor may be utilized to count, discriminate or characterize the molecules as they interact with the nanopore. Advantageously, system can be utilized for unamplified DNA sequencing.

Abstract: An apparatus for single-sided bilayer formation includes a first fluid chamber including a sidewall and a second fluid chamber extending through the sidewall. A barrier wall separates the first and second fluid chambers and includes a nanopore therein across which a planar lipid bilayer (PLB) is formed. In use, an electrolyte is added to the first and second fluid chambers and a lipid/organic solvent mixture is added to the first fluid chamber to form a lipid/organic solvent layer. The electrolyte level within the first fluid chamber is adjusted such that the lipid layer is raised above the barrier wall and a PLB is formed. Electrolyte levels may be adjusted manually or utilizing a fluid level regulator with or without feedback control. Optionally, the apparatus may be in the form of a nanopore array. The apparatus may be incorporated into an ion channel sensing system.

Abstract: An apparatus for single-sided bilayer formation includes a first fluid chamber including a sidewall and a second fluid chamber extending through the sidewall. A barrier wall separates the first and second fluid chambers and includes a nanopore therein across which a planar lipid bilayer (PLB) is formed. In use, an electrolyte is added to the first and second fluid chambers and a lipid/organic solvent mixture is added to the first fluid chamber to form a lipid/organic solvent layer. The electrolyte level within the first fluid chamber is adjusted such that the lipid layer is raised above the barrier wall and a PLB is formed. Electrolyte levels may be adjusted manually or utilizing a fluid level regulator with or without feedback control. Optionally, the apparatus may be in the form of a nanopore array. The apparatus may be incorporated into an ion channel sensing system wherein an electrical current through each PLB is separately recorded.

Abstract: An electrolytic system includes an analyte chamber having an access port for introducing a sample containing a molecules of interest, such as DNA. Electrodes create an electric field along a length of the analyte chamber to drive molecules toward an interaction region containing a nanopore, thereby increasing the arrival rate of molecules at the nanopore. Additional electrodes may be utilized to create an electric field through the nanopore to drive a molecule into the nanopore. A current sensor may be utilized to count, discriminate or characterize the molecules as they interact with the nanopore. Advantageously, system can be utilized for unamplified DNA sequencing.

Abstract: The sequencing of individual monomers (e.g., a single nucleotide) of a polymer (e.g., DNA, RNA) is improved by reducing the motion of the polymer due to thermally-driven diffusion to reduce the spatial error in the position of the polymer within a measurement device. A major system parameter, such as average translocation velocity or measurement time, is selected based on the characteristics of the sensing system utilized, and an algorithm jointly optimizes the sequencing order error rate and the monomer identification error rate of the system.

Abstract: An apparatus for single-sided bilayer formation includes a first fluid chamber including a sidewall and a second fluid chamber extending through the sidewall. A barrier wall separates the first and second fluid chambers and includes a nanopore therein across which a planar lipid bilayer (PLB) is formed. In use, an electrolyte is added to the first and second fluid chambers and a lipid/organic solvent mixture is added to the first fluid chamber to form a lipid/organic solvent layer. The electrolyte level within the first fluid chamber is adjusted such that the lipid layer is raised above the barrier wall and a PLB is formed. Electrolyte levels may be adjusted manually or utilizing a fluid level regulator with or without feedback control. Optionally, the apparatus may be in the form of a nanopore array. The apparatus may be incorporated into an ion channel sensing system wherein an electrical current through each PLB is separately recorded.